I always see people crappie fishing with store bought minnows. Will a crappie eat shad? I'd much rather catch my own bait and save some cash.

crappie have pretty small mouths for shad. Try casting in the shallows for some mud minnows, though it might take awhile. Or, for really good bait seign up some ghost shad.

I forgot all about ghost minnows. We use those for white bass at Somerville.

Minnows are cheap. Suck it up.

Actually I think a simple, small leadhead jig works better. A 3/4 lb. crappie on an ultra-light is loads of fun.

This time of year, I think crappie are fairly immobile, and hang around structure. I think some guides sink Christmas trees in the lakes, creating a sort of artificial reef for holding crappie. Don't know how legal that is, but it works (so I hear).



[This message has been edited by GoldenTriangleAg89 (edited 6/16/2003 1:09p).]

I use ghosties for white bass at sommerville, too, and where we fish, we always seem to hook 2 or three crappie when the fish are biting.

best way to catch Crappie: night fish around a lighted dock or use a floating light. The light will attract insects which attract crappie. We usually use ghosties then dropped down about 10-20 feet depending.

The Rooster
a.k.a. Frank Bajesus
a.k.a. The Atomic Cock
alias: El Macho Barracho
www.brazoscoarcheryclub.org

A soft body tube jig with a lead head works just about as good as minnows IMO.